TAAN Claims Langtang Safe For Trekking, Organises Marathon

Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) is organising the second episode of marathon in the Langtang region on April 25. This is the day of the occurrence of the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal in 2015, and TAAN wants to redeem that the Langtang region is safe for trekking.

The marathon will commence from KyanjinGompa that lies in the Langtang National Park and end at Syabrubesi while traversing through Thangsyap, GhodaTabela and Lingling. A prize of NRs 100,000, NRs 75,000 and NRs 50,000 has been allocated to the top three runners. Registration fee for Nepali participants is NRs 1,700 while that for foreigners is NRs 5,500.

“We want to spread a worldwide message that Langtang, one of the major trekking destinations of the country, is safe for trekking. We also want to revitalise the tourism activities in the region,” general secretary of TAAN, Karna Bahadur Lama said during a press conference in Kathmandu. The half marathon has been changed to full marathon, he added, to turn it into an international event.

Lama also shared the plans of turning Nepal into a major sports tourism destination in the global arena. The tourism sector, in addition, would be catering to domestic tourists as well as international ones. TAAN is expecting a minimum of 20 participants internationally this year, while this is to reach 200 by the next five years.